State Route 170 reopens

PETERSBURG, Ohio (WKBN) – State Route 170 in Petersburg is now open to traffic.

Justin Chesnic with the Ohio Department of Transportation said the route reopened Wednesday morning.

Our news crew was there on Tuesday as they filled a sinkhole with a mixture of sand and concrete. ODOT said they wanted to monitor the roadway before allowing traffic back in the area.

The problem has been going on since Sunday, and ODOT wants to remind drivers they just want to keep everyone safe.

The hole, thought to be from an old coal mine shaft, was first spotted Sunday afternoon.

Transportation officials are having trouble with some motorists ignoring the barricade. Some trucks are turning around anywhere they can.

“We have had barricades up and we had this blocked off. People have actually driven off the berm of the road and off into the gentleman’s yard and moved barricades. It is not safe. You can’t do that,” said Joseph Maslach, ODOT transportation administration. “We didn’t close the road just because we wanted to, we want to be safe.”